System and method of synchronizing objects between two devices

ABSTRACT

A synchronization system synchronizes objects between a portable computer and a desktop computer. The portable computer is capable of communicating with a storage volume that can become inaccessible to the portable computer. The system identifies storage volumes currently available to the portable computer and identifies storage volumes previously accessible to the portable computer, but not currently accessible to the portable computer. Objects contained in storage volumes that are currently accessible to the portable computer are then synchronized between the base computer and the portable computer. During the synchronization process, the system ignores objects stored on volumes that are not currently accessible to the portable computer. However, the system continues to monitor and record changes to objects stored on volumes that are not currently accessible to the portable computer. When a storage volume that was previously inaccessible becomes accessible, the system synchronizes objects stored on the previously inaccessible storage volume. The objects may be databases or other data structures. The storage volume that can become inaccessible to the portable computer is typically a removable memory card that can be inserted into the portable computer.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/326,163, filed Jun. 4, 1999, entitled “Systemand Method for Synchronizing Objects Between Two Devices,” to CharlesWu, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/103,859, filed Oct. 12, 1998, entitled “Flexible Grouping of ObjectsDuring Synchronization”, to Charles Wu.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to synchronizing one or more objects between twocomputing devices. More particularly, the invention relates toselectively synchronizing an object based on the accessibility of thestorage volume that contains the object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Laptop, handheld, and other portable computers or computing devices haveincreased in popularity as the devices have become smaller in size andless expensive. Additionally, improved operating speed and processingpower of portable computers has increased their popularity. Manyportable computers are capable of storing multiple application programs,such as address books, games, calculators, and the like. The applicationprograms can be permanently installed in the portable computer duringmanufacture (e.g., on read-only memory (ROM)). Alternatively, one ormore application programs may be installed by the user after purchasingthe portable computer.

Many of these small computers have limited physical resources. Forexample, both primary and secondary memory are typically quite limitedin comparison to desktop computers. In addition, small computers andother information processing devices often do not accommodate any formof removable mass storage such as floppy disks or optical disks. To makeup for this deficiency, such computers are often capable of utilizingthe resources of desktop computers or other base computers.

Initially, a base computer (such as a desktop computer) installsapplication programs on a smaller, more resource-limited portablecomputer, such as a laptop, handheld, or palmtop computer. Suchapplication programs are typically distributed from their manufacturerson some type of non-volatile storage medium such as a floppy disk or aCD-ROM. Since the portable computer typically has no hardware to readsuch a storage medium, the portable computer is instead connected tocommunicate with the base computer, typically through a serial link. Thebase computer reads the application program from the non-volatilestorage medium and downloads the program to the portable computer.

Portable computers that can receive application programs downloaded froma desktop computer are versatile and allow application programs to bereplaced or upgraded easily. Typically, an installation application isrun on the desktop computer that allows the user to select one or moreapplication programs for downloading into the portable computer. Afterselecting the appropriate application programs, the installationapplication downloads the application programs to the portable computer.

The invention described herein relates to the synchronization ofobjects, such as databases, stored in portable computers withcorresponding objects stored in a base computer. Some portable computerscontain a built-in main memory as well as one or more slots orconnectors to receive optional removable memory cards. Such memory cardsallow a user to increase the memory resources of a portable computer.The additional memory resources can be used for storing one or moreobjects, storing additional application programs, or executingadditional application programs simultaneously. The memory cards areremovable from the portable computer, such that the objects orapplications stored on the cards will become inaccessible if the card isremoved or disconnected from the portable computer. Inaccessible objectscannot be synchronized with the corresponding objects on the basecomputer because the objects cannot be retrieved unless the memory cardis coupled to the portable computer.

Typically, when a portable computer is synchronized with a basecomputer, objects that have been modified since the last synchronizationprocess are synchronized such that the portable computer and the basecomputer contain identical objects. Further, during each synchronizationprocess, if an object has been deleted on the portable computer or thebase computer since the last synchronization process, then thecorresponding object on the other system is also deleted. Thus, if amemory card containing a previously synchronized object is removed fromthe portable computer, then a synchronization process will delete thepreviously synchronized object from the base computer. Typically, theuser of the system did not intend for the objects on the memory card tobe deleted from the base computer during a synchronization process. Forexample, the user may have temporarily removed the memory card to allowthe insertion of a different memory card containing different objects orapplication programs. In this example, the user has not deleted theobject from the memory card. The object remains stored on the memorycard, but the memory card has been temporarily removed from the portablecomputer.

Although the memory card containing a particular object was removed fromthe portable computer, the user may desire to continue accessing theobject stored on the memory card using the base computer. However, ifthe object is deleted from the base computer during a synchronizationprocess, the user must re-insert the memory card in the portablecomputer and complete a synchronization process to allow access to theobject using the base computer. If the memory card containing the objectis then removed from the portable computer, the next synchronizationprocess will again delete the object from the base computer.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a mechanism that prevents thesynchronization of particular objects when one instance of the object isstored on a memory card or other storage device that has becomeinaccessible to the base computer or the portable computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein selectively synchronizes objects betweentwo devices. The synchronization is performed such that an object storedon a storage device (such as a memory card) that has become inaccessibleto a portable computer is not synchronized with a base computer, therebypreventing the deletion of the object from the base computer. Althoughthe object on the inaccessible storage device is not synchronized, thebase computer continues to monitor and record changes made to thecorresponding object stored on the base computer. After the storagedevice becomes accessible (e.g., is re-inserted into the portablecomputer), a synchronization process is performed such that the twoinstances of the object are again synchronized. This configurationallows the user to continue accessing an object through the basecomputer, even when the storage device on which the object is stored isno longer accessible to the portable computer. Thus, the user of theportable computer can temporarily remove storage cards from the portablecomputer without concern that objects stored on the removed card will bedeleted from the base computer.

In a particular implementation of the invention, objects aresynchronized between a base computer and a portable computer. Theportable computer is capable of communicating with a storage volume thatcan become inaccessible to the portable computer. Storage volumescurrently accessible to the portable computer are identified, and onlyobjects contained in those identified storage volumes are synchronizedwith the base computer.

In another implementation of the invention, the synchronization processignores objects stored on storage volumes that are not currentlyaccessible to the portable computer.

Using another aspect of the invention, the base computer continues tomonitor and record changes to objects stored on storage volumes that areinaccessible to the portable computer. These changes are synchronizedwith the portable computer when the previously inaccessible storagevolume containing the object becomes accessible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary portable computer and an exemplary basecomputer in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing pertinent components of a basecomputer in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a portable computer in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating pertinent components of aportable computer in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 is an architectural diagram of a system in accordance with theinvention for synchronizing objects between a portable computer and adesktop computer.

FIG. 6 illustrates multiple volumes currently stored on a portablecomputer and a desktop computer.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary procedure forsynchronizing objects between a portable computer and a desktopcomputer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary portable computer 100 and an exemplarydesktop computer 102 in accordance with the invention. Desktop computer102 is also referred to herein as a “base computer.” Portable computer100 can be any type of laptop, palmtop, handheld, or other computingdevice capable of receiving application programs from a base computersuch as desktop computer 102.

Portable computer 100 includes a portable synchronization manager 104,which is responsible for coordinating synchronization of objects storedon the portable computer with corresponding objects on base computer102. An object can be a database or any other data structure capable ofbeing synchronized between two computing devices and/or storage devices.Each object contains multiple data items (also referred to as “dataentries” or “records”). The term “synchronization” refers to a processin which changes to one database are automatically reflected in one ormore separately stored copies of the database. In the describedembodiment, synchronization involves two copies of a database, eachcontaining multiple corresponding entries, items, or records. Changesmight be made to an entry in one of the database copies. Duringsynchronization, those changes are implemented on the correspondingentry residing on the other database copy. If the same entry has beenchanged on both databases, the user is prompted to resolve the conflictby selecting one of the different versions of the entry to discard. Whena new entry is created in one of the databases, it is duplicated on theother database during synchronization. When an entry is deleted from onedatabase, it is deleted from the other database during synchronization.

The base computer and portable computer are each capable of executingmultiple different application programs. Different object types can beassociated with each application. For example, a personal contactmanager application utilizes an associated object which is a databasecontaining contact information accessed by the contact managerapplication. Depending on the number of contact entries, the contactmanager application may create multiple objects (i.e., databases)—onefor each category of contacts. In a particular example, the contactmanager application creates two objects, one for storing personalcontact information and another for storing work-related contactinformation.

Portable computer 100 includes a limited amount of built-in memory 110as well as one or more removable memory cards 112. Removable memorycards 112 may also be referred to as “storage cards” or “memoryexpansion units.” A portion of built-in memory 110 is addressable memoryfor program execution, and the remaining portion is used to simulatesecondary disk storage. The removable memory cards 112 may containpermanently installed applications, such as applications stored in aread-only memory (ROM), not shown. Additionally, a removable memory card112 may contain non-volatile memory for storing objects (such asdatabases) or downloaded application programs, thereby supplementingbuilt-in memory 110. Memory cards 112 allow the user of portablecomputer 100 to customize the device by adding application programs oradding memory for storing additional objects and downloading additionalapplication programs.

Portable computer 100 typically contains one or more applications 108.Applications 108 may include word processing applications, spreadsheetapplications, contact manager applications, and game applications.Although shown as a separate block in FIG. 1, each application 108 isstored in built-in memory 110 or in a removable memory card 112. Foreach application 108 executing on portable computer 100, an applicationsynchronization module 106 is provided. The application synchronizationmodule 106 is familiar with the objects used by the associatedapplication 108. This object knowledge is used by applicationsynchronization module 106 and communicated to portable synchronizationmanager 104 during the synchronization process.

Each storage device in portable computer 100 is divided into one or morestorage volumes. A storage volume contains one or more objects capableof being synchronized with corresponding objects in the base computer102. In one embodiment, the operating system of the portable computer100 or the base computer 102 is responsible for creating and definingstorage volumes. Input from the user of the portable computer or basecomputer can influence the creation and definition of storage volumes.In other embodiments, the application synchronization module 106 isresponsible for creating and defining storage volumes based on itsknowledge of the associated application 108.

In an exemplary portable computer 100, a removable memory card 112 isrepresented as a single storage volume and contains one object—adatabase used by a contact manager application. Another removable memorycard 112 in the portable computer 100 is also represented as a singlestorage volume, but contains multiple objects, such as a separate objectfor each stock portfolio database used by a portfolio trackingapplication. The built-in memory 110 of the portable computer 100 isdivided into three storage volumes, in which each storage volume is usedby a different type of application (e.g., an appointment application, atask list application, and a notepad application).

Each storage volume is assigned a globally unique identifier (GUID)—alsoreferred to as a universally unique identifier (UUID). The assignment ofa GUID is necessary to properly track all storage volumes that maybecome accessible to the portable computer. In one implementation of theinvention, the GUID is a 16 byte identifier generated by the operatingsystem upon creation of the storage volume. In addition to the GUID,each storage volume typically has a name (such as a file name) that isnot necessarily unique. Thus, two different memory cards may be named“stock_portfolios”, but the two memory cards will have differentidentifiers. In addition to volume identifiers, each object has anassociated object identifier. Each object stored on the portablecomputer 100 has an associated identifier and each object stored on thebase computer 102 has an associated identifier. Typically, the twoidentifiers are not identical, thereby requiring a mapping table orsimilar mechanism for correlating the two object identifiers. Althoughthe volume identifiers are unique, the individual objects stored on thestorage volumes do not require unique identifiers.

Portable computer 100 is designed to take advantage of a base computer'shardware resources. Particularly, portable computer 100 is designed sothat application programs and other data can be read from a distributionmedium by base computer 102, and then downloaded to portable computer100. Portable computer 100 is thus referred to as a peripheral computeror an auxiliary computer, in that it is controlled during this processby base computer 102.

To allow communications between base computer 102 and portable computer100, the two computers are coupled to one another through acommunication link 114. Typically, communication link 114 is a temporarybidirectional communication link established to exchange data betweenportable computer 100 and base computer 102. Communication link 114 isused, for example, to synchronize objects between base computer 102 andportable computer 100. Communication link 114 can also be used todownload applications and other data from base computer 102 to portablecomputer 100. In a particular embodiment, communication link 114 is aserial communication link. However, communication link 114 can utilizeany type of communication medium and any type of communication protocolto exchange data between portable computer 100 and base computer 102.

Base computer 102 in the described embodiment is a conventional personaldesktop computer. However, other types of computers might be used inthis role. Base computer 102 includes a desktop synchronization manager116, which operates in combination with portable synchronization manager104 in portable computer 100 to coordinate the synchronization ofobjects between base computer 102 and portable computer 100. Asdiscussed in greater detail below, desktop synchronization managermodule 116 also maintains the status of each storage volume on theportable computer 100. If a particular storage volume in portablecomputer 100 is not accessible, then desktop synchronization manager 116does not attempt to synchronize objects stored in the inaccessiblevolume.

Base computer 102 typically contains multiple applications 120.Applications 120 may include applications similar to applications 108stored on portable computer 100 as well as other applications notassociated with the synchronization process. For each application onbase computer 102, an application synchronization module 118 isprovided. The application synchronization module 118 is coupled todesktop synchronization manager 116 and its associated application 120.The application synchronization module 118 is familiar with the objectsused by the associated application 120. This object knowledge is used byapplication synchronization module 118 and communicated to desktopsynchronization manager 116 during the synchronization process.Specifically, desktop synchronization manager 118 determines whichobjects are stored on storage volumes that are accessible to theportable computer 100 and synchronizes only those accessible objects.Base computer 102 also comprises a desktop data store 122 coupled to thedesktop synchronization manager 116. Data store 122 stores informationnecessary to perform the synchronization process, such as the status(e.g., accessible or inaccessible) of each storage volume used withportable computer 100.

Although an object stored on portable computer 100 can be synchronizedwith a corresponding object on base computer 102, the two objects do notnecessarily share the same data structure or data storage format. Forexample, an object stored on the portable computer 100 is created usinga contact management program proprietary to the manufacturer of theportable computer using the manufacturer's data structure. That objectis synchronized with a corresponding object on the base computer 102.The object on the base computer is accessed using an application programdifferent than the contact management program on the portable computer.The base computer application uses a different data structure to storethe various information contained in the object. The two applicationsynchronization modules 106 and 118 operate in combination with portablesynchronization manager 104 and desktop synchronization manager 116 toensure that the two objects are properly synchronized and theappropriate data structures are maintained. This may involve translatingand/or converting the items or entries in one object to a differentformat or structure in the corresponding object, such that thecorresponding object can be accessed by the appropriate application.

The synchronization process is performed independently of theapplication programs that create and modify the objects beingsynchronized. The portable synchronization manager 104 and the desktopsynchronization manager 116 do not interpret or understand the dataentries contained within the synchronized objects. Therefore, the twosynchronization managers 104 and 116 merely ensure that the two objectsare properly synchronized. Similarly, the applications 108 and 120create and modify objects, but do not participate in the synchronizationprocess.

As mentioned above, corresponding objects on the portable computer 100and the base computer 102 typically have different identifiers. Thedesktop synchronization manager 116 maintains a mapping table of allobject identifiers. The mapping table also includes informationregarding the volume identifier associated with the objects as well asinformation regarding whether the object has been changed or deletedsince the last synchronization process. Table 1 illustrates an exemplarytable maintained by desktop synchronization manager 116. TABLE 1 VolumePortable Desktop Application ID Object ID Object ID Changed DeletedInformation 00 Object1 Object2A 0 0 01 Object2 Object34 1 0 02 Object3Object1F 0 0 03 Object4 Object27 0 1The Volume ID in Table 1 represents the GUID assigned to a particularstorage volume in the portable computer 100. The GUID is represented inTable 1 by a one-byte index rather than using the entire 16 byte GUID.Another table or listing (not shown) is used to identify whether aparticular volume is active or inactive (i.e., accessible or inaccessible). The corresponding Object IDs are provided in the next twocolumns of Table 1. The Portable Object ID represents the name of theobject used by the portable computer 100 and the Desktop Object IDrepresents the name of the object used by the desktop computer 102. TheChanged and Deleted bits indicate whether an object has been changed ordeleted since the last synchronization process. For example, a “0”indicates that the object has not changed or has not been deleted, and a“1” indicates that the object has been modified or deleted since thelast synchronization process. The last column in Table 1 is availablefor storing other information required by particular applicationprograms that have responsibility for the corresponding Volume ID. Thisinformation can vary from one application program to another. Certainapplication programs may not require any other information (in whichcase, the last column of Table 1 is empty. When performing thesynchronization process, only objects associated with active volumes aresynchronized. All inactive volumes, and the objects stored on thosevolumes, are ignored during the synchronization process.

FIG. 2 shows a general example of a base computer 102 that can be usedin accordance with the invention. Computer 102 includes one or moreprocessors or processing units 132, a system memory 134, and a bus 136that couples various system components including the system memory 134to processors 132. The bus 136 represents one or more of any of severaltypes of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, aperipheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or localbus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory 134includes read only memory (ROM) 138 and random access memory (RAM) 140.A basic input/output system (BIOS) 142, containing the basic routinesthat help to transfer information between elements within computer 102,such as during start-up, is stored in ROM 138.

Computer 102 further includes a hard disk drive 144 for reading from andwriting to a hard disk (not shown), a magnetic disk drive 146 forreading from and writing to a removable magnetic disk 148, and anoptical disk drive 150 for reading from or writing to a removableoptical disk 152 such as a CD ROM or other optical media. The hard diskdrive 144, magnetic disk drive 146, and optical disk drive 150 areconnected to the bus 136 by an SCSI interface 154 or some otherappropriate interface. The drives and their associated computer-readablemedia provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules and other data for computer 102.Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a hard disk,a removable magnetic disk 148 and a removable optical disk 152, itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types ofcomputer-readable media which can store data that is accessible by acomputer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital videodisks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and thelike, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment.

A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk 144, magneticdisk 148, optical disk 152, ROM 138, or RAM 140, including an operatingsystem 158, one or more application programs 160, other program modules162, and program data 164. A user may enter commands and informationinto computer 102 through input devices such as a keyboard 166 and apointing device 168. Other input devices (not shown) may include amicrophone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like.These and other input devices are connected to the processing unit 132through an interface 170 that is coupled to the bus 136. A monitor 172or other type of display device is also connected to the bus 136 via aninterface, such as a video adapter 174. In addition to the monitor,personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices(not shown) such as speakers and printers.

Computer 102 commonly operates in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer176. The remote computer 176 may be another personal computer, a server,a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, andtypically includes many or all of the elements described above relativeto computer 102, although only a memory storage device 178 has beenillustrated in FIG. 2. The logical connections depicted in FIG. 2include a local area network (LAN) 180 and a wide area network (WAN)182. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices,enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, computer 102 is connected tothe local network 180 through a network interface or adapter 184. Whenused in a WAN networking environment, computer 102 typically includes amodem 186 or other means for establishing communications over the widearea network 182, such as the Internet. The modem 186, which may beinternal or external, is connected to the bus 136 via a serial portinterface 156. In a networked environment, program modules depictedrelative to the personal computer 102, or portions thereof, may bestored in the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated thatthe network connections shown are exemplary and other means ofestablishing a communications link between the computers may be used.

Generally, the data processors of computer 102 are programmed by meansof instructions stored at different times in the variouscomputer-readable storage media of the computer. Programs and operatingsystems are typically distributed, for example, on floppy disks orCD-ROMs. From there, they are installed or loaded into the secondarymemory of a computer. At execution, they are loaded at least partiallyinto the computer's primary electronic memory. The invention describedherein includes these and other various types of computer-readablestorage media when such media contain instructions or programs forimplementing the steps described below in conjunction with amicroprocessor or other data processor. The invention also includes thecomputer itself when programmed according to the methods and techniquesdescribed below.

For purposes of illustration, programs and other executable programcomponents such as the operating system are illustrated herein asdiscrete blocks, although it is recognized that such programs andcomponents reside at various times in different storage components ofthe computer, and are executed by the data processor(s) of the computer.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of portable computer 100 for use with thepresent invention. For purposes of this description, the term “portable”is used to indicate a small computing device having a processing unitthat is capable of running one or more application programs, a display,and an input mechanism that is typically something other than afull-size keyboard. The input mechanism might be a keypad, atouch-sensitive screen, a track ball, a touch-sensitive pad, aminiaturized QWERTY keyboard, or the like. In other implementations, theportable computer may be implemented as a personal digital assistant(PDA), a personal organizer, a palmtop (or handheld) computer, acomputerized notepad, or the like.

Portable computer 100 includes an LCD display 200 and several user inputkeys or buttons 202. The LCD display 200 is a touch-sensitive screenwhich, when used in conjunction with a stylus 204, allows a user toinput information to portable computer 100. The stylus 204 is used topress the display at designated coordinates for user input. Buttons 202provide another mechanism for user input. A particular portable computermay have any number of buttons for user input. Although not shown inFIG. 3, portable computer 100 also includes one or more slots or otherconnectors capable of receiving removable memory cards.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating pertinent components of theportable computer 100. Portable computer 100 includes built-in memory110 and one or more removable memory cards 112. Built-in memory 110includes an operating system 220, one or more application programs 222,and a registry 224. Additionally, portable computer 100 has a processor228, I/O components 230 (including the display 200 and buttons 202 inFIG. 3), and a serial interface 232 for communicating with othercomputing devices (such as base computer 102 or another portablecomputer 100). In one embodiment, the various components in portablecomputer 100 communicate with one another over a bus 234. In anexemplary embodiment of portable computer 100, built-in memory 110 is anon-volatile electronic memory such as a random access memory (RAM) witha battery back-up module, not shown. In an alternate embodiment,built-in memory 110 is implemented using a flash memory device. Part ofthis built-in memory 110 is addressable memory for program execution,and the remaining part is used to simulate secondary disk storage.

Operating system 220 executes on processor 228 from built-in memory 110.In a particular embodiment of the invention, portable computer 100 runsthe “Windows CE” operating system manufactured and distributed byMicrosoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. This operating system isparticularly designed for small computing devices.

Application programs 222 execute from built-in memory 110 of portablecomputer 100. The number of application programs 222 that can besimultaneously installed on portable computer 100 is a function of theportion of built-in memory allocated to store application programs andthe size of the application programs 222 currently installed. Inaddition, application programs can be installed on removable memorycards 112 as described below.

The registry 224 is a database that is implemented in various formsunder different versions of the “Windows” operating systems. Theregistry contains information about applications stored on portablecomputer 100. Exemplary registry information includes user preferencesand application configuration information.

FIG. 5 is an architectural diagram of a system in accordance with theinvention for synchronizing objects between portable computer 100 andbase computer 102. As discussed above, desktop synchronization manager118 coordinates the synchronization of objects by determining whichobjects are stored on storage volumes accessible to the portablecomputer 100 and synchronizing only those objects that are accessible tothe portable computer. Portable synchronization manager 104 operates incombination with desktop synchronization manager 118 to synchronizeobjects stored on the portable computer with corresponding objects onbase computer 102.

Communications modules 240 and 242 are implemented on base computer 102and portable computer 100, respectively. These communications modulesimplement serial communications between the base computer and theportable computer using a serial connection 114 (e.g., a serial cable oran infrared link). Desktop synchronization manager module 118communicates with various operating system components of portablecomputer 100 through these communications components.

FIG. 6 illustrates multiple volumes currently stored on portablecomputer 100 and base computer 102. Each volume contains one or moreobjects that are synchronized with corresponding objects in acorresponding volume on the other device. In the example of FIG. 6, thebase computer 102 contains eight volumes, labeled Volume 1 throughVolume 8. These eight volumes represent all volumes that have beenaccessible to portable computer 100 during previous synchronizationprocesses and that have not been deleted from the storage devices of theportable computer. Each volume in the desktop computer contains one ormore objects. These objects represent a copy of the objects that werestored in the corresponding portable computer volume during the mostrecent synchronization process (i.e., the most recent synchronizationprocess during which the corresponding portable computer volume wasaccessible to the portable computer).

As shown in FIG. 6, portable computer 100 currently has four accessiblevolumes (Volumes 1, 4, 5, and 6) and four inaccessible volumes (Volumes2, 3, 7, and 8). The four inaccessible volumes can be determined byidentifying volumes that are currently stored in the base computer(i.e., previously synchronized when the volumes were accessible to theportable computer) but are not currently accessible to the portablecomputer. The four inaccessible volumes may be removable memory cardsthat have been removed from the portable computer 100 or some other typeof storage device that can become temporarily inaccessible to theportable computer (such as an interrupted network connection or adatabase that is currently off-line). If a synchronization process isinitiated with the volumes configured as shown in FIG. 6, objects storedon Volumes 1, 4, 5, and 6 of portable computer 100 will be synchronizedwith corresponding Volumes 1, 4, 5, and 6 of base computer 102. Objectson any of the other four volumes (Volumes 2, 3, 7, or 8) will not besynchronized until the removable memory card containing one or more ofthe objects is re-inserted into the portable device. Changes made to anyobjects stored on Volumes 2, 3, 7, or 8 of base computer 102 will bemonitored and recorded by the desktop computer. During the nextsynchronization of each modified object, the recorded changes will beentered.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary procedure forsynchronizing objects between a portable computer 100 and a basecomputer 102. At step 250, the portable synchronization manager 104identifies volumes that are currently accessible to the portablecomputer. A function such as “FindObjects” is useful to identify allaccessible volumes (and the objects stored in those volumes) in theportable computer 100. The FindObjects function is used by the portablesynchronization manager 104 to call each application synchronizationmodule 106, which is associated with a particular application 108. Eachapplication synchronization module 106 returns to the portablesynchronization manager 104 a list of known volumes (and associatedobjects) that are currently accessible.

The FindObjects function identifies a particular accessible volume inportable computer 100 and identifies all objects associated with theparticular volume that need to be synchronized. The objects that need tobe synchronized are those that have been modified since previouslysynchronizing the particular volume. The FindObjects function thenreturns a list of the identified objects to the portable synchronizationmanager 106 along with a volume identifier associated with the volumecontaining the identified objects. The portable synchronization manager104 then calls the FindObjects function a second time, which allows theapplication synchronization manager 104 to release resources by deletingthe list of objects identified as a result of the first call ofFindObjects. The second call of FindObjects causes FindObjects todetermine whether additional volumes remain on the portable computer 100that may contain objects that require synchronization. This second callof the function returns an indication of whether additional volumesremain. If additional volumes remain, then the FindObjects function iscalled again to retrieve the objects associated with another volume.

After all application synchronization modules 106 have responded (usingthe FindObjects function) with a list of accessible volumes andassociated objects, the portable synchronization manager 104consolidates the multiple lists and communicates the consolidated listof accessible volumes to the desktop synchronization manager 116 (step252).

At step 254, the desktop synchronization manager 116 retrieves a list ofvolumes previously accessible to the portable computer 100. Once avolume has been identified as accessible to the portable computer, thedesktop synchronization manager 116 maintains that volume identifier inthe list of previously accessible volumes, regardless of the number ofsynchronization cycles that have been performed in which the volume wasnot accessible.

Step 256 comprises comparing the list of previously accessible volumeswith the list of currently accessible volumes (retrieved in step 254) onthe portable computer 100. Each entry in the list of previouslyaccessible volumes indicates the status of the volume at the time of thelast synchronization process. The volume status is indicated as eitheractive (i.e., accessible) or inactive (i.e., inaccessible). Each volumein the list of currently accessible volumes is compared to thecorresponding volume in the list of previously accessible volumes todetermine whether the status of the volume has changed since the lastsynchronization process. Also, the list of previously accessible volumesis analyzed to see if any volume having an active status has becomeinactive (i.e., not on the list of currently accessible volumes).

If a volume is currently accessible and was previously accessible, thenthe volume's status remains active (step 258). If a particular volume isnot currently accessible, but was previously accessible, then thevolume's status is set to inactive (step 260). If a volume is currentlyaccessible, but was not previously accessible, then the volume is addedto the list of previously accessible volumes and the volume's status isset to active (step 262). After comparing each volume and updating thestatus of the volumes in the list of previously accessible volumes (ifnecessary), the portable computer 100 and the base computer 102 aresynchronized. The synchronization process is initiated by the desktopsynchronization manager at step 264. During the synchronization process,objects that have changed since the previous synchronization process andare stored in active volumes are synchronized between the portablecomputer 100 and the base computer 102. Objects stored on inactivevolumes are not synchronized, regardless whether the objects havechanged since the previous synchronization. Thus, if an object is storedon a removable memory card that is inactive (i.e., removed from theportable device), the corresponding object on the base computer is notdeleted. Further, the object on the base computer can be modified usingits associated application program. The desktop synchronization manager116 continues to monitor and record changes made to objects in inactivevolumes (step 266), thereby allowing synchronization of the changes withthe portable computer 100 when the volume again becomes active.

Particular embodiments of the invention are described above withreference to a portable computer having one or more removable memorycards. However, the teachings of the present invention can be applied toany computing device capable of accessing a storage device that maybecome inaccessible. The inaccessibility may be caused by a broken ordisabled connection between the storage device and the computing deviceor insufficient bandwidth to communicate data between the storage deviceand the computing device. Additionally, some or all of the data on astorage device may be temporarily unavailable or “off-line”, therebycausing the data to be inaccessible.

Thus, as described above, the invention provides a system and method forselectively synchronizing objects between two devices. Thesynchronization is performed such that objects stored on inaccessiblestorage devices are not synchronized. Although the objects stored oninaccessible storage devices are not synchronized, the base computercontinues to monitor and record changes made to the correspondingobjects stored on the base computer. When the previously inaccessiblestorage device becomes accessible, a synchronization process isperformed such that the two instances of the object are againsynchronized. The invention allows the user to continue accessing anobject through the base computer, although the storage device on whichthe object is stored is no longer accessible to the portable computer.Thus, the user of the portable computer can temporarily remove storagecards from the portable computer without concern that objects stored onthe removed card will be deleted from the base computer or otherwisemade inaccessible by the base computer.

Although the invention has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological steps, it is to be understoodthat the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarilylimited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, thespecific features and steps are disclosed as preferred forms ofimplementing the claimed invention.

1. A synchronization manager for a portable computing device,comprising: a volume identifier to identify storage volumes currentlyaccessible to the portable computing device; a connection sensor todetermine when the portable computing device is connected to a secondcomputing device; a deletion identifier to determine, in response tosensing a connection with the second computing device, objects subjectto deletion from the second computing device during a synchronizationprocess to occur between the portable computing device and the secondcomputing device; and a blocker to prevent deletion of the objectssubject to deletion during the synchronization process.
 2. Thesynchronization manager as recited in claim 1, further comprising asynchronicity maintainer for immediately synchronizing an objectcontained in one of the storage volumes not coupled with the portablecomputing device in response to the storage volume becoming accessibleto the portable computing device.
 3. The synchronization manager asrecited in claim 2, wherein at least one of the objects comprises aplurality of data items, and wherein the synchronicity maintainersynchronizes data items in the object.
 4. The synchronization manager asrecited in claim 3, wherein the object comprises a database.
 5. Thesynchronization manager as recited in claim 1, wherein the storagevolume that can become inaccessible to the portable computing devicecomprises a removable memory card.
 6. The synchronization manager asrecited in claim 1, wherein the storage volume that can becomeinaccessible to the portable computing device comprises a removable diskdrive.
 7. The synchronization manager as recited in claim 1, wherein thestorage volume that can become inaccessible to the portable computingdevice comprises a removable flash drive.